August 26 Teresa of Jesus Jornet

History

Even when she was a little girl, Teresa worried about poor people. She used to bring them to her aunt, who would be able to help them. When Teresa grew up, she wanted to dedicate her life to helping the poor. She started the Little Sisters of the Abandoned Aged, and her own sister came to help her care for all the older people she was caring for.  By the time Teresa died, she had founded more than 50 houses where the aged were cared for with love and dignity.

Activity

There are many elderly people who are all alone in the world, with nobody to care for them or love them. Today, pray that God will send somebody to tend the older folks in their final years.

Saint Teresa of Jesus Jornet, pray for us!

More reading for parents:

Catholic Fire

365 Rosaries

Catholic Online

August 25: Saint Louis, King of France

History

St. Louis was born to be the king of France, but his mother, Blanche, raised him to be a devoted servant of Christ as well as his country. Perhaps because he lived in a palace, surrounded by comforts, King Louis IX made it a habit to wear a hair shirt (which made him itch) under his fancy clothes so he would never forget the sufferings of the poor and oppressed. He fed more than 100 poor people every day from the royal table, and twice, he went to war to protect Christians in other countries.

Activity

For many, many years Christians have done different things that made them just a little bit uncomfortable so that they have a constant reminder to pray or to serve others. Try it today with three strands of wool yarn (representing the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit) knotted around your wrist.

Saint Louis, King of France, Pray for us!

More reading for parents:

EWTN

Catholic Encyclopedia

Catholic Online

August 25-31 Supplies List

Here is the supply list for the suggested activities for next week, August 25-31. Feel free to improvise or to adjust activities to fit your family's preferences, skills and time allotment.

Sunday: Woolen yarn (if budget is an issue, try purchasing an old woolen sweater from a thrift store and unraveling some of the yarn)

Tuesday: Ingredients for a frozen key lime pie: 1 can (14 oz each) sweetened condensed milk, 1/2 cup fresh lime juice (about 4 medium limes, but working moms, moms of infants and moms of many can feel free to skip this and buy bottled lime juice, 3 cups Reddi-wip® Extra Creamy Dairy Whipped Topping (or similar brand like Cool Whip®), 1 teaspoon grated lime peel (optional), 1 graham cracker pie crust (9-inch, pre-made or homemade), blue food coloring.

Friday: Food coloring (any color, any number of colors), 1/2 cornstarch per color, spray bottle (one per color; recycled cleaner or stain remover bottles work great because you can get a nice wide spray out of them), 1-2 sheets of card stock, craft knife, 

Saturday: Ingredients to make padlock treats: Nabisco Newton cookies (any flavor), red vine candy (or any other flavor/color of a vine-like candy)

August 24: St. Bartholomew

History

Saint Bartholomew (also called Nathanael in the Gospel of John) was one of the first of Christ’s disciples. After Jesus ascended into heaven, Bartholomew went to preach about Him in India and Armenia, which is in the Middle East. Some people believed and became Christians, but some people didn’t want to listen to him. They tortured him by cutting the skin off of his body until he died.

Activity

People all over the world celebrate Saint Bartholomew’s day in different ways. In Kent, England, there is a children’s race around Saint Bartholomew’s Hospital, and each child gets a current bun. In Austria, people bring butter to church to be blessed. In other places, people eat spiced nuts and gingerbread, possibly because he preached in India where there are many spices. The gingerbread is usually decorated with icing and sometimes gold. Here’s an easy recipe for gingerbread that you can bake. When it’s cooled, cut it into pieces and have fun decorating!

Ingredients:

•   3-1/3 cups sifted all-purpose flour

•   1 teaspoon ginger

•   1 teaspoon baking soda

•   1 stick (1/2 cup) butter

•   ¾ cups sugar

•   2 eggs

•   1-1/3 cups milk

•   White icing, gold decorator dust, etc.

DIRECTIONS

1. Sift the flour, ginger, and soda together.

2. Cream the butter with the sugar; add the eggs, then the sifted flour, and finally the milk. Mix well.

3. Let dough rest for a half an hour while you preheat the oven to 350° F. Gently move the dough into a greased 13x9 pan, level it and bake for about thirty-five minutes.

Recipe Source: Feast Day Cookbook by Katherine Burton and Helmut Ripperger, David McKay Company, Inc., New York, 1951

Saint Bartholomew, pray for us!

More reading for parents:

Catholic Encyclopedia

American Catholic

Catholic Online

August 23: Saint Rose of Lima

History

Saint Rose was given the name Isabel when she was born, but she was so beautiful, she was called Rose. She had no desire to be looked at, however – she wanted people to simply love Jesus as much as she did. When she talked about Him, she grew even more beautiful, because her face glowed and her eyes sparkled.

Activity

When Saint Rose was a little girl, her mother made a wreath of roses to put on her head to show off her loveliness. But Rose wanted to give everything to  Jesus. Today, use these simple instructions and some wired ribbon to make ribbon roses. Some years ago, my youngest daughter twisted several of these together to make a wreath and placed it around the feet of a statue of Jesus at church. It’s still there, and it makes her smile every time she sees it. You can do, that, too! (If you don’t have time to drive to church today, you can bring the wreath your family makes next Sunday.)

Saint Rose of Lima, pray for us!

More reading for parents:

Catholic Encyclopedia

American Catholic

August 22: Saint Sigfrid of Wearmouth

I couldn't find an image of Saint Sigfrid
 of Wearmouth but this un-named saint is 
reading a scroll, so it could be him.

History

Saint Sigfrid lied in England more around 1400 years ago. Many people respected him, and he led an abbey. Sigfrid was known for three things: he was very obedient to Christ, he was sick all the time, and he knew the Bible inside and out. Maybe it was knowing the Bible that helped him endure the pain and weakness that came from his illnesses.

Activity

Saint Sigfrid knew it was important to know and understand Scripture to help him through any kind of troubles. We should always learn and memorize Bible verses, because the Scriptures will help us, too. Here is a verse to memorize today in honor of Saint Sigfrid (Younger children can memorize just the last nine words if they have trouble with the whole thing):

“Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” — 2 Corinthians 12:10

Saint Sigfrid of Wearmouth, pray for us!

More reading for parents: 

Celtic Saints

Catholic Online